Lyon, 13–14 May 2015 Auditorium

Governing Council GC/57/4
Fifty-seventh Session 30/01/2015
Lyon, 13–14 May 2015
Auditorium
REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL
ON ITS FIFTY-FIRST SESSION
INTRODUCTION
1. The Fifty-first Session of the Scientific Council (SC) of the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) was opened by Dr Cornelia Ulrich (Chairperson of the Scientific
Council), at 09:00 on Wednesday 28 January 2015. She welcomed the participants, including the
new members of the Scientific Council, Drs Stephen Chanock (USA), Ellen Kampman
(Netherlands), Ole Raaschou-Nielsen (Denmark), Martin Röösli (Switzerland) and Elisabete
Weiderpass-Vainio (Finland).
2. She also welcomed Dr Mark Palmer (Chairperson, Governing Council), Professor Béatrice
Fervers (Chairperson, IARC Ethics Committee), Dr Andreas Ullrich (WHO Representative), and
Dr David Cox (Centre Léon Bérard – Observer).
3. Apologies for absence were received from Drs Nuria Aragonès (Spain), Lukas Huber
(Austria), Christos Sotiriou (Belgium), Dr Julie Torode (UICC Representative – Observer) and
Dr Agnès Buzyn (Vice-Chairperson, Governing Council).
4. For ease of reference a list of acronyms of Sections and Groups can be found in Annex 2
at the end of this Report.
DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
5. Declarations were summarized by the Secretariat and made available for consultation by
all Scientific Council members during the meeting. Please refer to the Annex at the end of this
Report.
ELECTION OF RAPPORTEUR
6. Dr Deirdre Murray was elected Rapporteur.
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA (Document SC/51/1)
7. The agenda was adopted.

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PRESENTATION OF STANDARD REPORTS: THE INTERIM ANNUAL REPORT 2014
(Document SC/51/2)
8. The Director presented the IARC Interim Annual Report 2014 and its scientific highlights.
9. A summary of discussions held and questions raised by the Scientific Council and answers
given by the Director or by the relevant Group/Section Head(s) are given below:
• The SC suggested that more information is made available, particularly to new SC
members, on the areas where, for example large cohorts exist and where ongoing
research is expected and budget applied, such as the EPIC study.
• An update was given on the HPV vaccination studies. Intermediate endpoints suggest
that single dose vaccine is promising. Modelling is used to explain differences in HPV
prevalence and vaccination efficacy across different populations.
• A discussion took place on the premenopausal incidence of breast cancer in African
women and possible association with infections. It was suggested that infections in
breast milk or nipple aspirates could be examined as to their association with such
cancer. Ethical considerations would prohibit such additions in a current study.
• A suggestion was made to publish a Monograph on the prevention of cancer in
response to the recent paper from Science1. It was acknowledged that the World
Cancer Report2 fills that gap but a suggestion was made to look at releasing a
shortened version and ensuring broader dissemination.
• IARC was invited to provide the evidence to the World Health Organization (WHO) to
enable WHO to evaluate the HPV programme (both screening and vaccination) as a
possible best buy.
• The SC emphasized the importance of translating cancer prevention scientific findings
into languages other than English. It was clarified that some summaries are now
translated into French and that similar arrangements exist with the Republic of Korea.
IARC is keen to work with local scientific cancer professionals in countries to translate
the documents, but are cognisant of the necessity to ensure that the translation is
accurate and valid. Members of the SC asked to suggest contacts to assist with the
translation.
10. The Scientific Council congratulated the Director and his staff on the IARC Interim Annual
Report 2014.
1 Tomasetti C, Vogelstein B (2015). Variation in cancer risk among tissues can be explained by the
number of stem cell divisions.
Science 347(6217):78–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1260825
2 Stewart BW, Wild CP, editors (2014).
World Cancer Report 2014 . Lyon, France: International Agency for
Research on Cancer.

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PRESENTATION OF STANDARD REPORTS: REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE
56TH SESSION OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL (Document SC/51/3)
11. The Director mentioned that the full Minutes of the Governing Council meetings
(GC/56/Min.1–3) were available on the IARC Governance website (http://governance.iarc.fr/
GC/GC56/index.php).
12. The Scientific Council noted the Report of the 56th Governing Council.
PRESENTATION OF STANDARD REPORTS: DIRECTOR’S UPDATE FROM THE
50TH SESSION OF THE SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL AND DISCUSSION (Document SC/51/4)
13. The Director presented a written report as an update from the last Scientific Council.
14. The Scientific Council noted the Director’s Report and update from the 50th Scientific
Council.
PRESENTATION OF STANDARD REPORTS: BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE IARC ETHICS
COMMITTEE (IEC), 2013–2014 (document SC/51/5)
15. Professor Béatrice Fervers, Chairperson of the IEC presented this item.
16. The Scientific Council queried which ethical guidelines were used when assessing a study.
The Chairperson clarified that the process is that studies require local/national ethical committee
approval in advance of submission to the IEC. The IEC then use international guidelines to
assess the study. Specific issues in specific cultures are discussed with local experts.
17. IARC clarified its role in handling any possible conflict of interest regarding the ASBEST
study and confirmed that this study is being closely monitored by the Scientific Advisory Board
and by the IEC.
18. The Scientific Council suggested that the IEC consider extending the ethical framework to
manage incidental findings to biomarker studies.
19. The Scientific Council noted the Report with satisfaction and thanked the IEC Chair for her
effort.
PRODUCTION OF STANDARD REPORTS
20. The Director would like to reduce the administrative load on the Agency’s resources
involved in the production of numerous standard reports and is seeking the Scientific Council’s
views on discontinuing the Interim Annual Report, which is resource-intensive and rarely used.
The Biennial Report (glossy book) would still be produced.
21. As other standard reports might be considered as no longer helpful or useful to either the
Scientific or the Governing Councils, it was suggested to set up a Working Group to review the
list of current standard reports and advise the Secretariat as to their possible termination.

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22. The Scientific Council Vice-Chair (James Bishop) as well as one Scientific Council member
(Elisabete Weiderpass-Vainio) volunteered to participate in this Working Group. The Governing
Council Chair was also requested, and accepted, to join the Working Group.
DIRECTOR’S RESPONSE TO THE REVIEWS OF THE SECTIONS OF IARC MONOGRAPHS
(IMO) AND MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY (MPA), HELD AT IARC IN JANUARY 2014
(Document SC/51/6)
23. The details of action taken following the reviews of the Sections of IARC Monographs
(IMO) and Molecular Pathology (MPA) were discussed.
24. The Director noted with satisfaction the high overall evaluation assigned to both Sections.
25. The Scientific Council made the following observations:
IARC Monographs (IMO)
• The SC congratulated IARC on the re-launch of the Handbook of Cancer Prevention
Series. It stated the importance of coordinating relevant WHO publication releases
with those of IARC. The Director clarified that discussions have taken place with WHO
as to how IARC can better contribute to WHO guideline processes.
• The SC suggested that the research time available for senior staff could be reviewed.
• The SC stated that strategic consideration be given to the appropriate weighting of
observational studies, which can be undervalued. The difficulty of undertaking meta-
analyses with a wide diversity of studies was discussed. The Section Head agreed
these meta-analyses present challenges and stated that they have considerable in-
house expertise in this area.
Molecular Pathology (MPA)
• The SC discussed the issue expressed by the Review Panel regarding the breadth of
the scope of the Section and the resources available. It was noted that this Section is
a key programme to IARC and suggested that its budget should have a sustainable
budget base. The Director replied that the Section continues to look for alternative
sources of funding. IARC has appointed a Knowledge Manager to help to maximize
the dissemination and income from digital Blue Books.
26. The Scientific Council accepted the Director’s response to IMO and MPA Reviews.
SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP OF SECTION REVIEW PANEL IN 2016
27. The Scientific Council discussed the Section to be reviewed in 2016: Section of Genetics
(GEN), Head: Dr Paul Brennan.
28. Review Panel (RP) members need to be identified as soon as possible to ensure a timely
process.
29. Drs John Spinelli and Nicholas Jones will participate in the GEN RP. It was agreed that
Dr John Spinelli would Chair it.

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30. The external members should be chosen by the Secretariat in consultation with the RP
Chair and the Chair of the Scientific Council.
31. The Review will take place at IARC on 25–26 January 2016.
THE GAMBIA HEPATITIS INTERVENTION STUDY (GHIS): FUTURE PLANS
(Document SC/51/7)
32. Dr Ramatoulie Njie, Group Head, presented this item.
33. Drs Spinelli and Weiderpass-Vainio, presented a review for discussion at the Scientific
Council.
34. The Scientific Council congratulated the entire research team on an important research
project. Besides initially successfully enrolling over 120 000 newborns in the trial, the Group has
continued to work within The Gambia, conducting additional important research and improving
the country’s infrastructure (particularly the National Cancer Registry) essential for success of
the study.
35. The Group Head raised the issue of the accuracy of liver diagnosis in the study in her
presentation. Experience with PROLIFICA suggests that cancer has been improperly diagnosed
in up to 18% of cases. This issue will need to be taken into consideration when undertaking
analysis.
• The SC suggested that The Gambia project should consider joining with H3A
(The Human Heredity and Health in Africa Initiative, HS Africa, a research
consortium). The Group Head would welcome further collaboration with this group.
• The SC discussed the link between research results and cancer control within The
Gambia. The Project has been very influential in devising policy within The Gambia
and cancer data is made available annually to the Ministry of Health. The success of
the vaccination study has enabled the decision to rollout the vaccination programme
nationwide.
• Links with other hepatitis groups within WHO were discussed. The project is involved
in guideline development with WHO and also in cost effectiveness studies on
screening and treating Hepatitis B.
36. In response to the Director’s request for guidance on: a) whether the GHIS is currently on
course to complete its main objective on measuring the effects of HBV vaccination on liver
cancer, the SC replied that the study was on course.
37. In response to the Director’s request for guidance on: b) what additional actions need to
be taken to ensure success of the project, the Scientific Council replied that:
• The non-comprehensive registration of HCC needs to be considered. A number of
actions have been taken by the Project to address the issue and further actions may
need to be taken.
• The potential of a higher than estimated attrition rate due to the failure of linkage
methodology was discussed. The SC considered that the different options that are